When the market takes a big dip like it did when Covid hit, that's when you buy an index fund. Investing 101. The markets are more than double what they were at their low in 2020. Predictions on the Dow are it will break 100k in five to ten years. The S&P is growing even stronger. Simple reason, interest rates are high and when they come down the economy will be really growing, especially in the currently weak real estate market. There will always be peaks and valleys, and of course there is no guarantees. An asteroid could hit the earth. But long term trends look promising right now.